Republican announces candidacy for 2014 US Senate race

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — A new Republican candidate is throwing his hat in the ring for the 2014 US Senate race. Mark Harris is a Baptist pastor from Charlotte vying for Democrat Kay Hagan’s seat.

He announced his candidacy at Air Wilmington this morning.

He says he’s against Obamacare, but thinks a government shutdown goes too far.

“I think it’s just a graphic illustration of the vacuum of leadership that we all feel we have in Washington, DC, today,” Harris said. “And that really is what brings us to the stage today, to this point, announcing our candidacy for US Senate.”

Harris is best known for co-founding “Vote for Marriage NC” and campaigning for the state’s Marriage Protection Amendment, which passed last year.